Wednesday, April 22, 2009

The Birth Survey

Have you seen this?  The Birth Survey is a survey being put on by The Coalition of Improving Maternal Services (CIMS) and the purpose of the survey is to encourage tranparency of maternal health care.  This survey will help women to make fully informed choices about their providers. Please fill out this survey if you've given birth at any time the past 3 years!

Monday, April 13, 2009

Monday, April 06, 2009

Ukranian Easter Eggs



My mom sent me a Ukranian Easter Egg kit similar (but better) than the one pictured above.  The tradition is that you give these eggs as gifts on special occasions-holidays, anniversaries, other significant moments.  You use melted beeswax and dyes to make these eggs.  I invited a friend over to come and do them with me.  It took us about 7 hours to make 4 eggs apiece.  It took a while to get used to using the the special tools.  It isn't very hard, perse, but it is very intricate work and takes a lot of concentration.  And time.  Our husbands took charge of all the kids and let us work in peace. 

Mine don't look near as beautiful as the ones we were looking at in pictures but they came out better than I thought they would.  Drawing straight lines and covering all the right places with beeswax is tricky.  I think this makes a really fun hobby and can't wait to make some more of these.  You can blow them out after you are finished or leave them as whole uncooked eggs and they will keep indefinitely.  The whole eggs will eventually dry out.  

If you are looking for a fun new hobby then I really recommend this for fun!